New Orleans Hornets Hustling to Land Corporate Sponsorships

The Hornets’ financial woes are well-documented, but there’s some hope in New Orleans, as the team continues to work diligently with the local business community to keep corporate dollars rolling through the door. From the Times-Picayune: “The NBA’s current lockout has not hindered the Hornets’ push to solicit more support from area businesses and fans. Entergy, the lone Fortune 500 company in the metro area, agreed Monday to become the Hornets’ fourth major Crescent City Champions sponsor, joining Cox Communications, 7-UP and Ochsner Health System. Terms of the deal were not disclosed, but each Crescent City sponsorship deal is estimated to be about $1 million, sources said. … The Hornets are in negotiations to land another major corporate sponsor and renew their television contract with Cox Communications, Hornets president Hugh Weber said. Sason-ticket sales, meanwhile, are approaching 9,000, and team officials said they are pleased with the impact of their ambitious ‘I’m, Are You?’ 100 events in 100 days campaign to secure 10,000 season-ticket holders by mid-September. ‘Both the renewals and sale of new tickets is happening every single day,’ NBA Commissioner David Stern said Monday. ‘It’s happening every single week and the same activity is taking place with respect to sales with sponsorships and marketing partnerships.'”